1. Theories of Language Acquisition
Lecture IV

2. Second Language Learning
Vocabulary
Pragmatics
Phonology

3. Vocabulary Vocabulary learning as a neglected area of L2 learning?
Syntax and morphology as the key areas to reduce errors in L2 learning in 1970s and 80s.
What is the current approach to L2 learning now?
Paul Meara’s comments on the neglect of vocabulary learning
The focus of research in vocabulary
The importance of vocabulary
Acquiring a large vocabulary of L2

4. Vocabulary 1.000.000 English words
An educated adult speaker of English knows around words
2,000 words used to cover majority of areas of conversation
200 words for basic communication
Vocabulary learning based on exposure and the contexts
Children learn the L1 thanks to exposure
New vocabulary is acquired based on the meaning

5. Vocabulary
The first step in knowing a word is to recognize that it is a word.
Tests have been developed by Meara and his colleagues in 2005, to verify this evidence
Word list tests to recognize words which look like English words
The frequency of seen, heard and understood words, helps the learner acquire a wide range of vocabulary
16 encounters are required until a word is established in the memory the learner

6. Vocabulary List I List II List III sing hotel document smile dollar.
List I
List II
List III
sing
hotel
document
smile
dollar
dictionary
face
disco
international
book
taxi
elementary
day
Internet
instruction
night
pizza
research
good
music
development

7. Vocabulary
The best source of vocabulary growth is reading for pleasure (Krashen 1989)
Reading plays a crucial role of vocabulary development for L2 learners
Reading materials from different fields
Using good learning strategies, keeping a notebook, looking words up in a dictionary, and reviewing what has been learned, helps learners expand their vocabulary

8. Pragmatics
Pragmatics studies how we use the language to express things such as directness, politeness and deference
Skills for interpreting requests, responding politely, recognizing humor, managing conversations, are required in the language
The need to learn that words can have different meanings
Ex. Is that your car?
Various meanings of a sentence is known as ‘Interlanguage pragmatics’.

9. Pragmatics
Five stages of development on the acquisition of requests in English by Kasper and Rose in 2002
Stage 1: Minimal language which is often incomplete: Go. Him, no good.
Stage 2: Memorised and routine language:
Let’s go. You look nice. Don’t go.
Stage 3: More productive speech: Could you help me, please? I bought some flowers for you.
Stage 4: More complex language: Could you possibly help us get this job done?
Stage 5: More refinement of the force of requests: You could help her pass the exam, couldn’t you?

10. Phonology Pronunciation has always been overlooked
The audio-lingual approach was focused in pronunciation
Some techniques for teaching it were developed to perceive and produce distinctions between sounds
After this approach, the attention to pronunciation was minimal
CPH suggested that native-like pronunciation was impossible for L2 learners
Even CLT paid little attention to pronunciation
Spanish, German and French have problems with pronunciation of certain sounds

11. Phonology
There is evidence for similarity in the acquisition of some features of suprasegmentals (intonation, stress and rhythm) among English and Albanian Ex: shpat-shpatë, plak–plakë
The amount of exposure to the target language and the degree of its use improve pronunciation
Learners focus on meaning first and then pronunciation
Pronunciation instruction can make a great difference
Little research has been done on the importance of pronunciation

12. Phonology Should the goal be to sound like a native-speaker?
There are many different pronunciations of English by native speakers, and many others who use English as lingua-franca
There are far more speakers of ELF than of English as a first language
Interaction with native speakers in different ways, helps L2 learners achieve a native-like accent

13. Questions .

14. Discussion What are the best ways to enhance pronunciation?
What is the most common issue of Albanian learners learning English as a L2 when it comes to pronunciation?

15. Task What are the best ways to enhance pronunciation?
What is the most common issue of Albanian learners learning English as a L2 when it comes to pronunciation?